Carole A. Pugliese

Carole A. Pugliese was born on March 4, 1943 in Palestine, Texas. She was the oldest daughter of Daniel Donato and Anne Marie Argentieri. At age 3, she moved to Queens Village, New York after her father's return from World War II. From a young age, Carole was an avid reader and an academic achiever. She attended Incarnation Elementary School and Mary Louis Academy High School. During Carole’s youth, she enjoyed painting watercolor landscapes. She also loved horses and took horseback riding lessons. In her late teens, she helped her father with record keeping in his medical office.

Carole attended Molloy Catholic College in Rockville Center, New York. There she studied biological sciences and in 1964, she graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Science.  In 1966, Carole received a Master’s degree in Microbiology from St. John’s University. From 1966 to 1969, she attended New York University  for post master’s credits in education.

Carole then embarked on a career as a Professor of Nursing at Suffolk Community College at the Selden Campus.  During her 40 year career, she was recognized in the “Who’s Who of American Women for Scientific Achievement’. She also received an award from the Guide Dog Foundation of Smithtown for a grant proposal to obtain funds for the visually impaired.

Carole and Domenico Pugliese had two children, Andrea and John who they raised in Smithtown and Nissequogue. On the weekends, the family enjoyed visiting Carole’s parents, who resided on the east end of Long Island in Mattituck, New York. They took family road trips to visit her parents at their winter home on Pine Island in Florida and they vacationed in Italy where the children were taught about their Italian heritage and culture. 

Carole was active in her children’s academics and helped them with their homework, reports and projects. She also lovingly took care of Puss, her late mother’s Persian cat. Carole’s other interests included antiquing, reading, sewing, cooking, baking, and gardening. She spent many hours at the Smithtown Library doing research and choosing reading material especially books by David Balducci.

After moving in with her daughter’s family in 2016, Carole spent her days being involved in the family dynamics, writing, and watching television especially OAN News Channel (News/Politics), National Geographic (Nature), The Monster’s Inside Me (Microbiology/Medicine), and Chopped (Cooking). She appreciated the simple things in life, like her coffee, ginger ale, Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream, her son’s homemade tiramisu, and other sweets. Carole and her home health companion, Camille Page, often ventured out for walks and shopping trips.

Carole was known as a woman who made her own way and marched to the beat of her own drum. She was known by many as a “tough cookie” , a life fighter, and you would often hear her exclaim, “I’m still alive!”.

On April 13, 2019.  Carole peacefully passed away while holding her son’s hand. She is survived by her daughter Andrea, son-in-law Dwight, granddaughters Gianna and Desiree and her son John, daughter-in-law Rose, and her grandchildren Allie and Domenico.

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